BBC Learning English The English We Speak 11th January 2011 Good Egg

Rob: Wang Fei: Rob: Wang Fei: Rob: Wang Fei: Rob: Wang Fei: Rob: Wang Fei: Rob: Examples A: Thanks for buying me lunch, you really are a good egg! B: I think we can trust her, she really is a good egg. Rob: Wang Fei: Rob: So these examples of using good egg mean someone is a reliable, trustworthy and generous person. It's a very British term isn't it? It is, which is why I tend to say it in a posh voice good egg. Of course, the opposite of a good egg is a bad egg. Let's hear how this term is used Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. I'm Rob Carter. And I'm Wang Fei. Did you enjoy the party at the weekend, Rob? Of course! And it was good of William to buy all that food and drink he's a good egg! A good egg? Yes, he's someone who is good to other people and he's generous too! So you're telling me William is a good egg because he's a generous person and he put on a good party? Well not just that. He's reliable too he always does what he says he will do like helping me with the decorating. So a good egg is really a nice person to know then? Yes, a good egg is an all round good guy. A good guy. Are we really talking about William?! We are.

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Examples A: He's a bad egg. I can't rely on him to do anything! B: How can I trust you to be on time? You're such a bad egg! Rob: Wang Fei: Rob: Wang Fei: Rob: Wang Fei: Rob: Wang Fei: Rob: Both: So in these examples bad egg is used to describe someone who is not reliable and untrustworthy. Actually Rob, I meant to tell you - I bought all the food and drink for William's party. He had forgotten to get any. Really? Did he have egg on his face? Excuse me? If you have egg on your face it means you're extremely embarrassed by your actions. Oh I see! William certainly had egg on his face but we still had a good party. Of course we did! Well don't forget to check our website. That's www.bbclearningenglish.com for lots more useful English words and phrases. Bye bye.

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